The eldest son of Coventryborn record producer and Pop Idol judge
Pete Waterman has died.

Paul Waterman, aged 33, died in hospital three days ago, according
to his father's official website.

A message on the site said: 'On January 3, 2005 Paul
peacefully passed away after a serious illness which had kept him in
hospital since June.'

Signed by Pete Waterman on January 4, the announcement ended:
'We would like to thank everyone for their kind regards and
sympathies and we hope that you will leave us to grieve our loss in
private.'

Paul worked for his father's music firm, PWL. Details of the
33-year-old's illness have not been released.

His death came just days after it was announced Waterman, aged 57,
had been made an OBE for his services to music in the New Year Honours.

Waterman's other son, Pete junior, cheated death in 1999 when
he survived a karting accident, which left him badly burned and in a
coma.

The millionaire writer and producer, who is a fan of Walsall FC,
has helped create some 200 hit singles for acts including Bananarama,
Kylie Minogue and Steps.

He recently presented a television series about his love of trains.
His love affair with the railways began when he was growing up in Barras
Green in Coventry where there was a railway line at the back of his
home.

His career took off in the 1980s through his partnership with
writers and producers Mike Stock and Matt Aitken.

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